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N-acetyl cysteine in Acute Liver Failure secondary to Hepatitis B

Authors:- Shikha Handa, Jyoti Walia, B.P Kalra

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from massive necrosis of hepatocytes or from severe functional impairment of hepatocytes.

Leading cause in developing countries is viral hepatitis, autoimmune diseases, where as in developed countries, drugs mainly acetaminophen is the most common cause of acute liver failure. N-Acetyl Cysteine, a glutathione, act as an anti-oxidant, replenishes mitochondrial and glutathione stores. Administration of NAC in children with non-acetaminophen induced acute liver failure, have shown to be associated with better outcome, shortened hospital stay and improved transplant free survival rates. We present a case report on use of N-acetyl cysteine in a 15 year old female with Hepatic Encephalopathy stage IV with Acute Liver failure (fulminant) secondary to hepatitis B virus.[Full Article]